Method of tinting thread



1933- c. J. BACON METHOD OF TINTING THREAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 13, 1931 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Aug. 22, 1933. c. J. BACON 1,923,136

METHOD OF TINTI NG THREAD Filed March 13, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Aug 22, 1933 UNITED STATES METHOD OF TINTING THREAD Charles J. Bacon, Waynesboro, Va., assignor to Du Pont Rayon Company, New York, N. Y., a Corporation of Delaware Application March 13, 1931. Serial No. 522,282

13 Claims.

This invention relates to the tinting of thread, and more particularly to a process of applying an aqueous tinting composition to an artificial thread and treating said thread so as to prevent permanent coloration thereof. Stated differently, this invention contemplates a process whereby an artificial thread formed of a cellulose derivative, such as cellulose acetate, may be fugitively colored. By fugitive color or similar terminology used herein is meant a coloration capable of substantially complete removal by ashort treatment with warm water or a warm dilute soap solution. e

In the manufacture of textile products utilizing a plurality of the same or different threads, it is extremely-desirable to differentiate and distinguish the various threads in order to observe the quality of the construction and products of the knitting, weaving or other operation. For example, in one of the methods of making crepe fabrics, wherein a left twist thread is combined with a right twist thread, and in plaiting where one thread is laid over another, it is extremely desirable to be able to watch the quality and progress of the operation. In actual practice, these desired features are secured by employing threads which are diiferently and fugitively colored. Because of the differently colored threads, the quality and progress of the operation may be obtained upon mere inspection. Subsequent to the operation, the fabric is treated with warm water or a warrri dilute soap solution, whereby the coloration of the thread is substantially completely removed.

' Prior to the present invention, attempts were made to uniformly, fugitively and deeply color artificial thread. However, exceedingly great difliculties were encountered in the production of artificial threads which were fugitively and sufficiently colored to be useful. One serious disadvantage was that the tinting compositions and methods of application thereof employed had a tendency to permanently stain the thread which, of course, was not desired. This was particularly true when a swoolen yarn was tinted. Another serious defect was that the thread was not uniform as to both color and fugitivity.

I have found that I can produce uniformly, deeply and fugitively colored artificial thread formed of a cellulose derivative, such as cellulose acetate, even while in the swollen condition, by applying to an already prepared thread or to a thread at some stage in the production thereof and shortly thereafter, either before or after (c1. s s)- winding and/or twisting, reducing the moisture content of the treated thread.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a method of definitely, fugitively and deeply tinting artificial thread, for example a thread formed of a cellulose derivative, such as an ester, for example, cellulose acetate.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of uniformly and fugitively tinting artificial thread, and specifically that formed of a cellulose derivative such as cellulose acetate, which comprises applying an aqueous tinting composition to the thread already formed or at some stage in the production thereof and shortly thereafter, either before or after winding, rewinding or twisting, removing the excess water from the treated thread.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of fugitively tinting artificial thread, such as that formed of a cellulose derivative, for example cellulose acetate, which comprises applying an aqueous tinting composition to an already formed thread or at some stage in the production thereof and shortly thereafter, either before or after winding, rewinding or twisting, treating the thread to reduce the moisture content thereof to an amount not toexceed approximately 10%.

Additional objects will appear from the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and wherein:

Figures 1 to 4 inclusive diagrammatically illustrate several modifications of the method constituting this invention.

Figures 5 and 6 diagrammatically illustrate two modifications of the present method directly combined with the production of the thread.

The invention, as is evident from the above objects, contemplates a method of making substantially uniformly colored thread formed of a cellulose derivative, such as cellulose acetate, the coloration being fugitive, i. e. capable of easy removal by subsequent treatment, such as with warm water or warm, dilute soap solution. As will hereafter appear, the mere choice of thecoloring agent does not satisfactorily determine the permanency or fugitivenes of the coloration. Experiments carried out have shown that the fugitiveness of the color depends, at least in part, on the treatment of the thread after the application of the color thereto. f

I have found that I can produce a definitely fugitive color on thread formed of a cellulose derivative, such as cellulose acetate, by applying the color in an aqueous solution or dispersion and then, shortly after the application of the tinting composition, removing substantially all the excess water therefrom or at least to such a degree that the moisture content does not exceed 10%. If, however, the excess water and/or moisture is not removed relatively promptly after the application of the tinting composition, permanent staining, instead of fugitive coloring, is ob tained. For example, I have found that, when dyes, such as light green SF yellowish (Index No. 670), fast acid violet 10B (Index No. 696), acid violet C413 (Index No. 698), Ruby G (Index No. 179), Guinea green B (Index No. 666) are applied to cellulose acetate thread in anaqueous solution or suspension, they permanently stain the thread if the excess water and/or moisture is permitted to remain for a period of several hours but, if the water and/or moisture is substantially removed or reduced in a relatively short time after the application of the composition, the color is a fugitive one. This is true irrespectiveof whether the thread is a freshly spun one (which may con tain residual solvents) or if it is one which has been spun sometime previously. Moreover, if this fugitively tinted thread is subsequently wetted and maintained in a wet condition for several hours, the color will permanently stain the thread. I

In-the foregoing it is stated that the water and/or moisture content of the treated thread should be reduced shortly after the application of the aqueous tinting composition. By the expression shortly I do not mean that the water and/or moisture-reducing step must be carriedout immediately after the application of the composition. It may be carried out at any time prior to that which is necessary for the color to permanently stain the thread. Stated. somewhat differently, this operation must be performed before the lapse of such an interval of time as will result in a permanent staining of the thread by the color. For instance, I have found that, if tinted cellulose acetate thread containing more than 10% of moisture is permitted to stand for approximately 4 to 5 hours, the thread will be permanently stained. However, if the thread is treated to reduce its moisture content at sometime before this period has intervened, the color will be fugitive.

As tinting compositions which may be employed in this process may be mentioned aqueous solutions orsuspensions of dyes,such as light green SF yellowish (Index No. 670), fast acid violet 10B (Index No. 696), acid violet 04B (Index No. 698), Ruby G (Index No. 179), Guinea green B (Index No. 666), etc. with or without oils, sulphonated oils, soaps, wetting-out agents, sizing agents and any ofthe materials commonly used in dyeing. They may be applied to the thread by means of wicks, rollers, pads, sprays, submersion of the thread, etc.

No specific condition, state or form of the thread is required for the successful practice of the invention. The aqueous tinting composition may be applied to the thread in the form of .hanks or skeins prior to spooling, winding or twisting thereof. It may also be applied to already wound thread either on cores or in the form of cakes during rewinding, spooling or twisting. Moreover, the tinting composition may be applied to a freshly spun thread containing residual solvents and even to a thread or filament at some stage in the production thereof, for instance in an operation combined directly with the dry spinning process prior to winding of the thread.

The reduction of the water or moisture content of the treated thread may be accomplished by drying the thread in many and numerous ways. It may be performed as a subsequent operation or combined with the winding, twisting or indeed the process of producing the thread. For instance, a package of treated thread prepared as previously described may be subjected to a subsequent operation as by being disposed in a heated chamber, maintained at approximately 110 C. until the desired moisture content is secured. On the other hand, the thread, after having the tinting composition applied thereto and prior to winding thereof may be passed over or through a heated zone, such as a hot plate of suitable length or through a heated chamber maintained at approximately 110 C. and preferably having heated air circulating therethrough. Instead of the hot plates or heated chambers just mentioned, nozzles projecting heated air of appropriate temperature may be utilized to effect the desired reduction in the moisture content. As a still further alternative a nozzle or perforated pipe may be positioned in cooperative relation to the core or support on which the treated thread is wound. In this construction, air at an elevated temperature is projected continuously or intermittently on the windings as they are formed on the support. Furthermore, the method constituting this invention may be directly combined with the process of producing the thread, as, for instance, with the dry spinning process.

In order to more fully explain the invention, several specific procedures will hereafter be described.

Referring to Figure 1, previously prepared cellulose acetate thread 1 wound on a spool or bobbin 2 is unwound therefrom and tinted by passing through a wick 3 partly submerged in a tinting composition 4 comprising 4% water solution of fast acid violet l0B (Index 696). After application of the color the thread is Wound on to a second spool 5. Shortly after the thread has been wound on the spool 5 and before the color permanently stains the thread, both the spool 5 and the colored thread thereon are disposed in a heated chamber'having air at C. circulated therethrough and maintained therein until the desired moisture content of the thread is secured. In the case of cellulose acetate thread, the moisture is reduced until it does not exceed approximately 10% and preferably about 6%.

Referring now to Figure 2, wherein another procedure is illustrated, a cellulose acetate thread 1 previously wound on a spool 2 is unwound therefrom and passed over a roller 6 partly submerged in a tinting composition which may comprise an aqueous solution containing 2% Guinea Green B (Index No. 666), 1% Olive oil soap and Gelatin. After the thread has been colored, heated air is projected thereon as by one or more nozzles 7, whereby the thread is dried until it has the proper moisture content, i. e. approximately 6%. It is finally Wound on the spool 5. The applying roller 6 may rotate in the same direction as the movement of the thread or opposite thereto, as desired.

Another procedure contemplated by the present invention is illustrated in Figure 3. According to this modification, the cellulose acetate thread 1 is unwound from a spool 2 and wound on to a spool 5. In the course of travel between the two spools the thread passes over a wick 3 partly immersed in a water solution containing acid violet C4B (Index No. 698), 3% olive oil soap, and 10% sulphonated olive oil. After application of the tinting composition, it is passed through aheated chamber 8,- in which air at 110 C. is circulated in such a manner that the moisture content thereof is reduced to approximately 6%. The thus treated thread is then wound on the spool 5.

' Figure 4 illustrates still another modification of the method constituting this invention. According to thismodification, a cellulose acetate thread 1 is unwound from a spool 2, is treated with an aqueous. tinting composition by any suitable applying mechanism, such as a roller 6, and then wound on the support -5, as set forth in the description of Figure 1. Mounted in cooperative relation with the support 5 is a nozzle, such as a perforated pipe 9, projecting heated air, continuously or intermittently, upon the 'windings of the thread on the support.

The inventionis not restricted to respooling of thread as specifically described in the above examples. It may be used in conjunction with the twisting of the thread. For example, during the twisting operation the running thread may be passed through a wick partly submerged in the following aqueous dispersion:

Per cent Fast acid violet 10B (Index No. 696); 1 Ruby G (Index No. 179) A; Soap I- 1 Oxidized cottonseed oi1' 3 Olive oil l 1 Within two hours after the thread is wound on to a perforated metal receiving bobbin, the bobbin and thread are heated in an oven. maintained at C. until the moisture content is reduced to approximately 6%. The moisturereducing step also sets the twist.

As previously mentioned, the process constituting this invention may be directly combined with the process of producing the thread, and Figures 5 and 6 diagrammatically illustrate two such procedures.

Referring toFigure 5, the reference numeral 10 designates a known spinning cell containing a spinneret 11 of the type commonly used in the production of artificial thread by the dry spinning process and specifically for the production of thread from cellulose acetate. The thread 1 is withdrawn from the lower portion of the cell as indicated at 12 and then by suitable guide 13 directed to pass over a suitable applying mechanism 14, whereby the tinting composition is applied to the thread. Prior to winding it on the core 15 which may be a spool or bobbin alone or in combination with a twisting device, the thread may be passed over or through any suitable drying mechanism, such as a heatedchamber 16, whereby the moisture content of the thread is reduced to that desired. It is, of course, to be understood that instead of passing the thread through the chamber 16, any other suitable means for .reducing the moisture content, such as a heated plate or nozzles projecting heated air, may be used.

The procedure illustrated in Figure 6 differs from that illustrated in Figure 5 in the specific mode of reducing the moisture content of the colored thread. In this modification, air of appropriate temperature is projected through a perforated pipe 1'7 positioned in cooperative relationship with respect to the spool 15 on. to the windings of the thread as it is being formed on the said spool.

' It is to beunderstood that the drawings illustrating the various procedures are diagrammatic. Therefore, well-known elements, such as twisting mechanism,- guides for directing and maintaining the thread in contact with the composition-applying mechanism as well as traverse guides for directing the thread on thebobbin have not been shown.

It is to be understood'that, when the tint is applied to a freshly spun .thread containing residual solvent, the quantity of solvent-is such that it does not interfere with the results desired. Likewise, when the tint is applied to the thread at some stage in the production thereof, it is to be understood that this stage is not one sufficiently early in the spinning cycle so that the thread contains a considerable amount of solvent at the moment of tinting. In other words, whenever the tint/ is applied to a thread containing a solvent,

the quantity of solvent in the thread should be such that it does not interfere with the production of a fugitive tint.

Though the invention has been described with particular reference to cellulose acetate thread,

and changes may be made in the above described method, I do not intend to limitthis invention to the exact details described except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of uniformly and fugitively tinting artificial thread which comprises applying an aqueous tinting composition to the thread and shortly thereafterreducing the moisture content of the treatedthread to an amount which will be insuflicient to cause permanent staining.

2. A method of uniformly and fugitively tinting artificial thread which comprises applying an aqueous tinting composition to the thread and shortly thereafter reducing the moisture content of the treated thread to an amount not to exceed approximately 10%.

3. A method of uniformly and fugitively tinting artificial thread which comprises unwinding artificial thread from'a core, applying an aqueous tinting composition thereto, reducing the moisture content of the treated thread to an amount not to exceed 10% and winding the thus treated thread on another core.

1. A method of uniformly and fugitively tinting artificial thread which comprises unwinding the artificial thread wound on a core, applying an aqueous tinting composition to the thread, winding the treated thread on another core and reducing the moisture content of the treated thread wound on the secondcore to an amount not ex-:

6. A method of uniformly and fugitively tinting artificial thread which comprises applying an aqueous tinting composition to a thread formed of cellulose acetate and shortly thereafter reducing the moisture content of the treated thread to an amount which will he insufficient to cause permanent staining.

7. A method of uniformly and fugitively tinting artificial thread which comprises applying an aqueous tinting composition to a thread formed of cellulose acetate and shortly thereafter reducing the moisture content of the treated thread to an amount not exceeding 10%.

8. A method of uniformly and fugitively tinting artificial thread which comprises forming an artificial thread formed of cellulose acetate by the dry spinning process, applying an aqueous tinting composition to said acetate thread at some stage in the manufacture thereof and shortly thereafter reducing the moisture content of the treated thread to an amount which will be insufiicient to cause permanent staining.

9. A method of uniformly and fugitively tinting artificial thread which comprises forming an artificial thread formed of cellulose acetate by the dry spinning process, applying an aqueous tinting composition to said acetate thread at some stage in the manufacture thereof and shortly thereafter reducing the moisture content of the treated thread to an amount not exceeding 10%.

10. A method of uniformly and fugitively tinting artificial thread which comprises applying an aqueous tinting composition containing fast acid violet 10B, Index No. 696, to a thread formed of cellulose acetate and shortly thereafter reducing the moisture content of the treated thread to an amount which will be insufficient to cause permanent staining.

11. A method of uniformly and fugitively tinting artificial thread which comprises applying an aqueous tinting composition containing fast acid violet l0B, Index No. 696, to a thread formed of cellulose acetate and shortly thereafter reducing the moisture content of the treated thread to an amount not exceeding 10%.

12. A method of uniformly and fugitively tinting artificial thread which comprises forming an artificial thread formed of cellulose acetate by the dry spinning process, applying an aqueous tinting composition containing fast acid violet l0-B, Index No. 696, to said acetate thread at some stage in the manufacture thereof and shortly thereafter reducing the moisture content of the treated thread to an amount which will be insufficient to cause permanent staining.

13. A method of uniformly and fugitively tinting artificial thread which comprises forming an artificial thread formed of cellulose acetate by the dry spinning process, applying an aqueous tinting composition containing fast acid violet l0-B, Index No. 696, to said acetate thread at some stage in the manufacture thereof and shortly thereafter reducing the'moisture content of the treated thread to an amount not exceeding 10%.

CHARLES J BACON. 

